High pressure gas process



Oct. 18, 1938- w H, VAUGHAN HIGH PRESSURE GAS PROCESS Filed Aug". 20, 1937 WM. H.VAUGHAN INVE OR BY ATTORNEY Patented Oct. 18, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT ,orrlcs men rasssmm GAS raoosss William H. Vaughan, Rodessa, La., assignor to Tidewater Associated Oil Company, Tulsa, th., a corporationof Delaware, and Seaboard Oil Company of Delaware, Dallaa, '1cx., a corporation oi Delaware Application August 20, 1931, Serial No. 160,192 14Elaims. (01. 62-1155) day absorption processes, the gas willexpand to 5 sirable constituents from gas while said gas is at more than three and one-half times its' initial relatively high pressure. I volume. On the other hand, by the process of Another object of this invention is to recover this invention, a gas at 1400 pounds pressure may desirable constituents from gas initially at relabe processed at that pressure, for the recovery of tively high pressures without dissipating more desirable constituents therefrom, and the pres- 10 than a minimum amount of the pressure energy sure thereafter reduced to 1000 pounds, and thus initially present in the gas. expand to about 40 percent of the volume occupie A further object is to recover desirable conin the first example. stituents from a gas by treatment thereof at pres- Another advantage obtained in processing gas sures above 700 pounds per square inch. at the high pressures contemplated by this invenis This invention further contemplates the treattion, is that at such high pressures, gases exhibit ment of gas initially available from gas or oil wells heat exchange and flow characteristics approachat pressures substantially above 700 pounds per ing those of liquids, and the efliciency of heat exsquare inch, to recover therefrom gasollne'hychanger and other equipment,through which high drocarbons, while maintaining the gas at high pressure gases are transmitted, is correspondingly. 20

pressures of the order of the initial pressure, in increased. V order that the residue gas from the process may Another factor which becomes of great imbe available at pressures sufficiently high to per-;' portance when dealing with gases under high mit its direct use for repressuring of high prese pressures is that condition now generally termed sure oil or gas formations or for other purposes retrograde condensation". This term may be 25 for which high pressure gases-are particularly explained as follows: when liquid such as .a desirable, to thereby avoid the excess cost of hydrocarbon liquid of mixed composition is in" equipment andpower now required for the recomcontact with vapors thereof and uncondensible pression of. gases to'be used under high pressure. gases such as methane and is subjected to inconditions. creasingly high pressures, above 700 pounds per 30 Heretofore, because of the relatively limited insquare inch, the liquid will go into solution in formation available with regard to the behavior increasing amounts in the vapor, as the pressure of gases and liqueflable constituents contained increases above this lower limit, though there is therein when under relatively high pressures, the no change in temperature and even though the recovery of such liqueflable constituents was ac-' temperature is below the condensation tempera- 35 complished in the conventional manner by first retures of the-various components of the liquid. ducing the'pressure ofthe gas to a relatively low When the pressure of such gasescontaining the pressure and then processing the gas for the dissolved components is reduced throughalimited recovery of desired constituentsby conventional range above 700 pounds per square inch, con- 40 methods such as the conventional absorption sys-- densation of liquid occurs, even though the temtom. I perature remains constant. This condensation of Such conventional methods necessitated the liquid by reduction in pressure is termed dissipation'ofa relatively large proportion of the ,retrograde condensation", and takes place in a initial pressure energy in thegas, whicnenergy particular pressure range for each particular would otherwise be .useful. for various purposes composition of liquid, at each particular tempera- 45 and particularly where it is-desiredto return the ture. The range of Pressure Within which gas to anzoil orother producing formation for rerograde condensation occurs is the retrograde pressuring such formation. Furthermore, in recondensation ran e. and belowv this ra 0 ducing the pressure of gas from the comparatively additional liquid will condense without reduchigh pressure at which it is frequently available tion in temperature, but instead, as the pressure 50 I at oil or gas wells to the comparatively lowpresis further reduced, the liquid components will resure necessitated when processing the gas by condissolve in the vap in proportion to their ventional methods, great increases in volume of spective vapor pressures and molal concentra' the gas result, requiring equipment of proportions at the particular temperature employed in 66 tlonately e sed i for-the handli g thereof. accordance with the well known gas laws; I t 5 This invention relates to a process of recovering desirable constituents from gases and particularly to a process of recovering gasoline constituents from natural gas;

An object of this invention is to recover de- For example, with a gas available at 1400pounds per square inch at the well, when the pressure is reduced to 400 pounds for absorption and even this pressure is comparatively high for present lower boiling components of the liquid will be 1 separator I1.

reabsorbed first, and as the pressure increases, successively higher'boiling components will be reabsorbed by the gas, or conversely, as the pressure is reduced in the retrograde condensation range from higher to lower pressures, successively lower-boiling components will be condensed from the gas. 4

Other objects and advantages of' this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which diagrammatically illustrates an arrangement of apparatus suitable for practicing the process of this invention.

Referring to the drawing:

An oil well, designated A, comprises casing and tubing 2 conventionally mounted therein, a. pipe 3. in which is mounted a valve 4, is connected to tubing 2 and pipe 3 has connected thereto oppositely disposed branch pipes 5 and 6 equipped with valves I and 8, respectively. Casing I also has connected thereto oppositely disposed branch pipes 9 and III, in which are mounted valves II and I2, respectively. Branch pipes 5 and 9 are connected to a pipe I3, equipped with a pressure control valve I3a, which leads through a series of coolers I4, I5 and I6, respectively, and from cooler I6 leads into a scrubber or separator IT. A pressure releasevalve I9 is mounted in pipe I3 at a point in advance of its entry into Coolers I4, I5 and I5 are prefer ably conventional shell and tube type exchangers, adapted to withstand relatively high pressures and pipe I 3 is connected successively to the tube sections of these coolers. Separators I1 is a high pressure vessel preferably fitted with baflles or bubble trays of conventional design, and equipped with a side draw-ofl pipe I9, in which is mounted a valve 29. Separator I I is also equipped with a liquid level controller 2|, which is operatively connected to valve 20. A pipe 22, equipped with a valve 22 is connected to the lower portion of separator l'l below the level of the point of exit of pipe I9 from separator II. A pipe 24 in which is mounted a pressure control valve 25 is connected into the upperportion of separator I1 and leads therefrom into the shell of cooler I5. A pipe 26, equipped with a valve 21, leads from the shell of cooler I5, and connects with a pipe 26, equipped with a valve 29, which leads to themtake of a compressor 29. A pipe 3| leads from the discharge of compressor 90 and connects to a second oil or gas well designated B. Well B, like well A, has a conventional casing 32 and' tubing 39. A pipe 54, equipped with a valve 35, connects to tubing 93 and has branch pipes 26 and 91, fitted with valves 38 and 39, respectively,

and casing 32 has branch pipes 40 and 4|, fitted with valves 42 and 43, respectively. Pipe 3| is connected to branch pipes 26 and 40 and a pipe 44 connects to branch pipes 31 and 4|. A pipe 45, in which is mounted a valve 46, leads from a point in pipe 26 between valves 21 and 29 and connects to pipe 3|, thus providing a by-pass in pipe 26 around compressor 90 to well B. A pipe 41, equipped with a valve 45, is connected to pipe 3| and leads to a connection with branch pipes 5 and I0 connected to wellcA. A by-pass pipe 49, equipped with a valve 50, is connected into pipe 24 at a point between separator I1 and valve 25, and leads to a connection with pipe 26 between valves 21 and 29. A pipe 5|, in which is mounted a regulating valve 52, leads from a point in pipe 24 on the discharge side of valve 25 into pipe 26 at a point between cooler I5 and valve 21, thus providing a by-pass connection between pipes 24 and 26 around cooler I5. Valve 52 is operated by a connection 53 leading from a thermostatic control means 54 mounted in the upper portion of separator I1. Pipes 55 and 56, respectively, provide inlet and exit pipes to cooler I4 and pipes 51 and 58, respectively provide inlet and exit pipes to cooler I6.

The above described apparatus is used in the following manner in conducting the .process of this invention:

Gas containing desirable constituents and under a high pressure such that these constituents will remain in vapor state in the gas, even though the gas is cooled below the critical temperature of such constituents, is discharged from well A through pipe'I3, thence through coolers I4, I5 and I6 and into separator IT. The gas may be taken from casing I through branch pipe 9 and valve II or from tubing 2 through pipe 3, branch pipe 5 and valve I. Valve Ila is maintained in its fully open position and valve I8 adjusted to maintain the desired high pressure, on the gas in its passage from well A to separator II.

In its passage through coolers I4, I5 and I6, the gas issubjected to a series of cooling or heat extraction steps, whereby the temperature of the gas is progressively decreased in order that a final temperature may be reached in separator IT, at which the desirable constituents will liquefy in separator II when the proper pressure adjust ment is made as will be more fully explained hereinafter. The first heat extraction in cooler I4 is generally accomplished by introducing water at ordinary atmospheric temperatures in the shell of cooler I4 and through pipe 55, the water, after serving. its purpose, being discharged from cooler I4 through pipe 56. In cooler I5, additional heat is extracted from the gas by exchanging therewith the same gas which has been additionally cooled in cooler I6 and further cooled by expansion from the initial pressure to a lower pressure, all as will be more fully described hereinafter. The gas used for the heat extraction step in cooler I5 is introduced into the shell thereof through pipe 24 -and discharged therefrom through pipe 26.

The next extraction of heat from the original gas then is accomplished in cooler I6, through the shell of which an artificial refrigerating medium, such as expanded liquid propane, ammonia or other refrigerating fiuid is passed. Such fluid is introduced into the shell of cooler I6 through rape and discharged therefrom through pipe By the described heat extraction steps, sumcient heat will have been extracted from the gas in its passage through coolers I4, I5 and I6 to reduced the temperature of the gas to below the critical temperatures of the desirable constituents, and under ordinary conditions, these constituents would condense and separate from the lighter constituents of the gas. However, under the high pressure at which these heat extraction steps are conducted, the desirable constituents il through pressure relief valve it, which releases the pressure on the gas entering separator l1 and is adjusted to reduce the pressure to'that at which retrograde condensation will occur at the particular temperature to which the gas is finallycooled. The reduction of the pressure 'of the gasthrough valve Illv will produce an additionalreduction in temperature of the gas in separator. H, which, together with the reduction in pressure will result in the .condensation in separator ll of substantially all the constituents,

which it is desired to remove from the gas. The condensed constituents will collect in the lower portion of separator l1 and will be discharged therefrom .through pipe 49 to a conventional stabilizing system, not shown. The condensed constituents willbe withdrawn under control of liquid level controller 2| which will operate valve 20 in line I 9 to permit discharge-of condensed constituents at a rate such as to maintain a constant level thereof in separator I1. The uncondensed gas, separated from condensate in separator ll, wlll'be discharged therefrom through pipe 24 and valve 25 thence through cooler I5 and into pipe 26. As noted, the reduction in pressure of the gas entering separator l will cause expansion thereof and consequently reduce J the temperature of the gas below that at which it enters valve l6. This reduction. in temperature is then utilized in extracting heat from the original gas passing through cooler l5v as mentioned heretofore. r

The degree of pressure reduction of the gas in separator I1 is controlled by adjustment of pressure release valve 25 in pipe 24,-and as noted above. the particular pressure thus maintained in separator I! is that at which the desirable constituents will condense and at which no substantial reabsorption of the condensed constituents will occur. Under these conditions, condensation of the desirable constituents of the original gas may be accomplished while maintaining the gas at a relatively high pressure, since the pressure at which retrograde condensation occurs, when the gas hasbeen cooled to the critical temperature of the desirable constituents is always relatively high and as a'result, the residues gas will be available for disposal for any suitable purpose at relatively high pressures.

For example, residue gas discharged from cooler .l5 through .pipe 26, may be utilized for repressuring another oil or gas producing formation. .Well Brepresents a well in communication with such a formation. If the formation pressure is the same or below that of the residue gas, the

gas may be discharged directlyfrom cooler l5.

through pipe 26, thence through pipe 45 into and into tubing 33 or casing 32, as-may be desired, and into the formation to be repressured, In

closed and valve 46 in pipe 45 opened.

In case the oil. or gasformation to .be repressured requires a gas for this purpose at a pressure higher than that of the residue gas in pipe 26, valve 46 may be closed and valve 29 a,1sa,774

' closed and valve 48 in pipe "opened and the re-compressed gas recycled to well A, into which it is introduced through either of branch pipes 6 or III by opening the corresponding valve 6 or l2.

In any case, since only a minimum amountof the initial pressure energy of the gas has. been dissipated during the recovery of'the-desirable constituents therefrom, a maximum amountof the initial pressure energy willbe available'in the gas and even where re-co'mpressionis resorted to to raise the pressure of the gas, the power and equipment required for re-compression will be very much less than has heretofore been required for this purpose.

The cooling of the original gas in cooler i5 through pipe 24. By-pass pipe 5| and valve 52 are provided for this purpose and valve 52 is controlled .by the temperature in the upper portion of separator I! in regulating the by-passing of the gas around cooler l5. Pipe 49 and valve. 50 provide an additional by-pass connection between pipe 24 and pipe 26, whereby all or any part of the gas leaving separator ll may be diverted from its normal flow through cooler l5.

in the latter case will be substantially the same as in the former modification. However, when the temperature to which the gas is to be finally cooled is below a temperature at which formation of hydrates of the desirable constituents occurs, the former modification may prove more satisfactory in that the final reduction in temperature in that case will be accomplished in separator l1, and in many cases, hydrates will be formed only during this final temperature reduction step with the result that since separator I1 is of relatively large size with correspondingly large gas passages therein, the forma-- tion of hydrates will be unlikely to stop up such passages and,'in addition, the hydrates will be continuously subjected to the washing action or" I the down-flowing condensate, which will tend to break up thevhydrate crystals and wash them to the bottom of separator I 'I from which they may; then be'withdrawn through pipe 22 and .valve- 23.:

Y one'speciflc example of the application of this particular case, valve 29 in pipe 28 will be 4 the above process, gas, initially at ,a' pressure of plus 10 F. 'bywater-cooling in cooler; H, exchange with expanded gas in cooler l5, by ex pansion of liquid propane in cooler l6 and by expansion through valve I 8 into separator I! from'the initial pressure of 22 50'pounds to a final pressure of i600 pounds per square inch gage. The yield of liquid products in separator I! was 2.0 gallons per 1000 cubic feet of the original gas.

In a second case, with gas initially available at 1400 pounds per square inch, approximately 84% of the original gasoline content of the gas was recovered by the above described process with a final reduction in pressure to 1000 pounds per square inch.

Generally speaking, the process described is applicable particularly to the treatment of gases under a pressure above 700 pounds per square inch gage, as it appears that below this pressure.

there is no material deviation from the recog- 4 nized gas laws and conventional processes may be used more or less successfully on lower pressure gases.

Since the critical temperatures of the various hydrocarbons, which are ordinarily desirable in the recovered product, such hydrocarbons being generally butanes, pentanes, and hexanes and heavier, are well above ordinary atmospheric temperatures, it is generally unnecessary to go to extremely low temperatures to recover these constituents by the described process, although at lowertemperatures, the final pressure, within the retrograde condensation range, at which these products may be recovered, may be increased somewhat. The temperature range found in practice to be most generally suitable for most field conditions is from about -5 F. to 40 F., although higher or lower temperatures may be used depending upon the composition of the original gas and upon the particular components or mixture of components which it is desired to recover, and upon the temperature and pressure conditions which are found most economical to apply.

Another important advantage arising from this invention is that the composition of the re covered constituents may be controlled, in some degree, by control of the pressure in the range in which retrograde condensation of the desired constituents occurs. As noted above, retrograde condensation is apparently selective, for it appears that at any particular temperature, when the pressure is, initially increased in the retrograde condensation range, the lightest constitucuts of the recovered products will first be reabsorbed in the high pressure gas and as the pressure is increased, successively heavier constituents will be reabsorbed. Conversely, as noted above, at a particular temperature, as the pressure is reduced within the retrograde condensation range, successively lighter components will condense. For example, in a gas at the high pressure of the order above noted, and containing in vapor state propane, butanes, pentanes and heavier, as the pressure is reduced from its upper limits in the retrodgrade condensation range, largely pentanes and heavier will first condense, and as the pressure is further reduced, butanes and then propane will condense in succession.

Thus by selecting a particular pressurewithin stituents.

without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

For example, instead of cooling the gas by three diflerent cooling mediums as described above, only one or two of thesemediums may be used.

. In some cases, expansion of the gas from the initial pressure to the final pressure may produce sumcient cooling to condense the desired con- Or propane or other artificial refrigerants alone may be used. Again, only water cooling may be sufficient. Since high pressure gases coming from oil or gas wells are initially at temperatures substantially above normal atmospheric temperatures, the initial cooling of the gas to atmospheric temperature is generally best accomplished by means of water cooling because of therelative cheapness of this medium. Any additidnal cooling required may then be supplied by either one or both of the other mediums referred to.

What I claim and desire to secure by letters Patent is:

1. The-method of recovering desirable liquefiable constituents from natural gas which is initially at a high pressure within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents which comprises, cooling said gas sufficiently to condense said constituents while reducing said high pressure substantially only within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents at the reduced temperature, and separating the resulting condensed constituents from uncondensed gas.

2. The method of recovering desirable liquefiable constituents from natural gas which is initially at a high pressure within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents which comprises, cooling said gas sufiiciently to con dense said constituents while the gas is maintained under said high pressure, thereafter reducing said high pressure substantially only with in the retrograde condensation range of said constituents at the reduced temperature, and separating the resulting condensed constituents from uncondensed gas.

3. The method of recovering desirable liquefiable constituents from natural gas which is initially at a high pressure within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents which comprises, pre-cooling said gas while under said high pressure to a temperature below its initial temperature but above the final desired temperareducing said high pressure substantially only within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents at said final temperature and thereby to further cool said gas to said final temperature, and separating the resulting condensed constituents from uncondensed gas.

4. The method of recovering desirable liquefi able constituents from natural gas which is initially at a high pressure within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents which comprises, cooling said gas below its initial temperature while said gas is maintained under said high pressure, thereafter reducing said high pressure sufiiciently only to produce retrograde condensation of said constituents at the reduced temperature, separating the resulting condensed constituents from uncondensed gas, and utilizing the refrigeration effect produced in the gas by the reduction in pressure to accomplish the aforesaid cooling. v

5. The method of recovering desirable liquefiable constituents from natural gas which is ini- 8,188,774 tially at a high pressure within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents which .flcial refrigeration. 4 I

f i The method of-rec v'ering desirable iiquefi tially at a pressure above 700 pounds per square comprises,'cooling said gas below its initial temperature while said gas is'maintained under said high pressure, thereafter reducing said high-presable constituents from natural gas which is iminch which comprises, cooling said gas to a suit- "ents, reducing the initial pressure of the gas subable condensation temperatureior said constitustantially only within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents at said condensation temperature but not below 700 pounds per square inch, and separating the resulting condensed constituents from uncondensed gas.

'7. The method of recovering desirable liquefiable constituents from natural gas which is initially at a pressure. above 700-pounds per square inch which comprises, cooling said gas while under said pressure to a temperature below its initial temperature but above the final desired temperature, then reducing said initial pressure substantially only within 'the retrograde condensation range of said constituents and to thereby further cool said gas to said final temperature, and separating the resulting condensed constituents from uncondensed gas.

8. The method of recovering desirable liquefiable constituents from gas which is initially at a pressure above 700 pounds per square inch which comprises, subjecting said gas to multi-stage cooling to condense said constituents while reducing the initial pressure of said gas substantially only within the retrograde condensation range of the desired constituents at the final temperature, separating condensed constituents from uncondensed gas, and cooling the gas in at least one of the cooling stages by the refrigeration effect produced by the reduction in pressure of the gas.

9. The method of recovering gasoline constituents fromnatural gas which is initially at a pressure above 700 pounds per square inch which comprises, subjecting said gas to multi-stage cooling to condense said constituents while reducing the initial pressure of the gas substantially only within the retrograde condensation range of the desired constituents at the final temperature but not below 700 pounds per square inch, separating condensed constituents from uncondensed gas, and cooling the gas in at least one of the' sta'ges. part by artlthereof.

gressively decreasing temperature to a final tern-- perature suitable to condense said constituents, reducing said pressure only in the final one of said cooling stages and suiiiciently only to produce retrograde condensation'of said constituents and to cool said gas by the expansion thereof to said final temperature, separating condensed constitu! ents from uncondensed gas in said final cooling stage. and utilizing said uncohdensed gas as a cooling medium in an earlier one of said cooling ll. The method of recovering desirable liquefi- .able constituents from 'natural gas which is ini 'tially at a/high pressure within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents which comprises, cooling said gas in a series of'cooling stages oi progressively decreasing temperature to a final temperature suitable to condense said constituents, reducing said pressure only in the final one of said cooling stages sufiiciently only toproduce retrograde condensation of said constituents high pressure within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents which comprises, reducing the initial pressure of the gas substantially 'only within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents, thereafter cooling said gas to condense said constituents, and separating the resuitingcondensed constituents from uncondensed gas.

13. The method of-recovering desirable liquefiable constituents from gas which is initially at a pressureabove 700 pounds per square inch which comprises, reducing the initial pressure of the gas substantially only withinthe retrograde condensation range of said constituents but not below 700 pounds per square inch, thereafter cooling said gas to condense said constituents, and separating the resulting condensed constituents from uncondensed gas.

14. The method of recovering desirable liquefiable constituents from natural gas which is initially at a high pressure within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents which comprises, cooling said gas sufliciently to condense said constituents while the gas is maintained under said high pressure, thereafter reducing said high pressure substantially only'within the retrograde condensation range of said constituents at the reduced temperature, separating the resulting condensed constituents from uncondensed gas, and passing said uncondensed gas into. indirect heat-exchange relationship with said natural gas prior. to the reduction in pressure WILLIAM H. VAUGHAN.

DISCLAIMER 2,133,774.'Will12zm H. Vaughan, Rodessa La. HIGH PRESSURE GAB PROCESS. Patent dated October 18, 1938-. Dlsclaimer filed February 17, 1941, by the ees, Tide Water Associated Oil Company and Seaboard Oil Company of ware. Hereb enter this disclaimer to claims 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14. I Gazette March 18, 1941.] v 

